John G Bauer

Born in Waukegan, IL, John graduated from Waukegan Township High School in 1953 and later attended the University of Illinois. He served in the Army Security Agency in Taiwan, where he spent two and a half years monitoring Chinese-Taiwanese relations. He chose to be discharged overseas so he could travel and visit friends in the Pacific region.

After returning to Illinois, he graduated from Northern Illinois University, where he met his wife, Jane. They married and moved to Florida in 1970.

John taught in Pinellas County and served as President of the Pinellas County Teacher’s Association. He helped create a Teacher’s Education Center (TEC) in Florida and later moved to Sarasota to establish and direct the TEC there. Before retiring, he returned to teaching and finished his Ed.D from the University of South Florida.

A natural leader and educator, John had a gift for connecting people and ideas to turn possibilities into realities. When someone said something could not be done, John would ask “Why not?” Whether in his professional or personal life, he had an ability to bring together the right people and resources to make things happen. When offered an opportunity, he said yes -- except when it meant too much time or distance away from his family.

John’s sense of adventure, curiosity, and fun left a lasting impression on those around him. He could teach his family and students anything from math to waterskiing. He was passionate about traveling, the environment, photography, and golf, having played since 1946. Over his lifetime, he visited dozens of countries across six continents, as well as most of the United States.

John is survived by his wife, Jane; his son, David; his daughter, Robin; his nephews Bob, John, and Tom Voight, and John Dreyzehner; his niece, Tracey Grossi; his sister-in-law, Faith Dreyzehner; and many great-nephews and great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Erma Bauer; his sister, Carol Voight; his brother-in-law, Don Voight; and his brother-in-law, John Dreyzehner.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, July 8th, at Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home in Timber Ridge in Ocala, at 12 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Nature Conservancy: Https://preserve.nature.org/page/173850/donate